About Us

Perceptive Travel is an award-winning site comprising a monthly narrative webzine and a much more frequent blog. We garnered a Silver medal from the North American Travel Journalists Association in 2012 for “Best Online Travel Journalism Site,” then followed it up with two Gold prizes including “Best Online Travel Magazine” for 2014. We won a Gold from the Society of American Travel Writers in 2013 for “Best Travel Blog.” Both the blog and the bloggers themselves have repeatedly been recognized in other awards and gotten into highly regarded book anthologies. Sheila and the editor Tim Leffel are frequently invited to speak at travel industry events.

Tim and the talented bloggers below put a dozen or so posts each month, going beyond surface-level list posts and tired destination round-ups. They seek out the offbeat and interesting places, people, and stories from dots on the map big and small.

This blog started in 2007 and has been steadily growing from there. While a few people have come and gone over the years, here’s who’s on board now; click their names to see the full bios. You can also find all of our Twitter handles here and contact info here.

Kerry Dexter has been contributing editor for folk and blues music at VH1.com/SonicNet, and contributing editor for folk, Americana, and world music at Barnes & Noble online. Her blog Music Road is a three-time nominee for top arts and culture blog at the Irish Blog Awards, and her post Irish music, Irish landscape was recognized as among the top-ten best posts across all categories. Read Kerry’s posts here>>

Liz Lewis is a freelance travel, health, and lifestyle writer. Having lived various places in the world (Hawaii, Crete, California, Germany, and Saudi Arabia), she now resides in New Zealand. When it comes to travel, ‘eco tourism‘, ‘soft adventure’ and ‘luxury’ are key words for Liz. Don’t suggest bungy jumping or mountain climbing. Instead, suggest wine tasting, food markets, and cultural activities. Read Liz’s posts here>>

Sheila Scarborough is a a three-time expat (Bahrain, Japan and the Netherlands) who is equally comfortable looking for plastic food on Kappabashi Dori in Asakusa, Tokyo, boot-scooting at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, or enjoying high tea at Fortnum and Mason, London. She blogs about tourism, social media and technology at Sheila’s Guide to the Good Stuff, and co-founded Tourism Currents, offering online and in-person training in social media for tourism and hospitality. Read Sheila’s posts here>>

Brian Spencer is a freelance writer and editor currently based in Singapore, where he moved in 2012 following more than a decade in Brooklyn (yes, the “hipster” part). He’s also lived in Bangkok, went to college in Murfreesboro, TN, and grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. He models his street basketball game after Rasheed Wallace – three-point bombs and defense, baby – and rarely meets a craft beer he doesn’t like. Read Brian’s posts here>>

Kristin Winet is an award-winning writer, editor, teacher, and novice shutterbug currently based in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to blogging for Perceptive Travel, she’s been featured both online and in print and is currently writing her dissertation on travel discourse, feminism, and digital media. Say the words culture, adventure, good food, good wine, or good company, and she’s packed (with a good book in tow, no less). Read Kristin’s posts here>>